Improvement in making pliers



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEO CHESTER W. SYKES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAKING PLIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 21,525, dated September14, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHESTER W. SYKEs, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pliers orPinchers; and I do hereby declare that the following` is a full, clear,and eXact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front view of the improved pliers or pinchers when placedin an upright position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3is a perspective View of one of the movable jaws of the same detachedfrom the handle.

Similar letters in the figures referto corresponding parts.

The nature of this invention and improvement consists in connecting thejaws of the pliers or pinchers to the handles of the same by pinsarranged diagonally with each other and at equal distances from thecenterfpin, upon which the handles move, and allowing one set of theconnecting-pins to have a longitudinal movement in parallel slots insuch a manner as to enable, the said jaws to be opened and closedparallel with each other, and thereby enable a more firm grip to begiven the object grasped by them than if they opened and closed upon afixed center-pin, as heretofore.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The handles A are made of the usual or most approved form at the portionwhere they are grasped by the operator, and are secured together at thepoint where they cross each other by the usual center-pin, B, andinstead of being extended upward to form grasping-jaws, as heretofore,they are simply bent outward and upward beyond the crossing portion, andare made to enter slots formed in the lower portions of parallel movingjaws C, the upper ends of which are made tapering on their sides, andsomewhat similar in form to the jaws of pliers or pinchers now in use.The upper extended curved ends of the handles A are attached to theupper portion of the jaws C by pins D passing through the said ends andthrough the jaws, and the portions of the handles below the center-pinor fulcrum B, upon which they move, are connected to the lower portionsof the jaws C by pins D projecting from the surfaces of the handlesopposite each other, and at the same distance from the center or fulerumB as the pins D are situated,and entering parallel longitudinal slots E,formed in the lower portions of the jaws C, in which the said pins Dtraverse when the jaws are opened and closed by the movement of thehandles A. By thus connecting the jaws C to the oscillating portions ofthe handles A above and below the pivot or fulerum B, on which theyWork, a parallel movement is given the said jaws C, and they are enabledto grasp a nut, bar, or, in fact, any object having parallel sides overa greater amount of surface than if their embracing surfaces Wereangular or diagonal with each other, and through this means are betteradapted to the fulfillment of the objects of their design.

This feature is particularly desirable in grasping the ends of bars, orother articles having parallel sides or screw-bolt heads and nuts uponwhich a firm and strong hold is necessary, as by it this desideratum isnot only accomplished, but the edges or other parts of the articlesgripped are not so likely to be injured as if they were taken hold of inan angular manner, as heretofore, instead of parallel and over theirentire surface, as in this ease. 4

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Connecting the jaws C of the pliers or pinchers to the portions of thehandles A above and below the center-pin or fulcrum B, upon which theymove, by pins D D at points diagonal with each other, and at equaldistances therefrom, the lower set of the said pins D being inserted andallowed to traverse (with the opening and closing of the handles andjaws) in longitudinal slots Ein the lower parts of the said jaws C,substantially in the manner and for the purpose before described.

CHESTER W. SYKES.

Vfitnesses:

J. W. Goonies, S. H. WALES.

